Voter Information-How to Become a Voter in California

How to Get to Vote

Online Registering to VoteTo vote in California, you must be:
At least 18 years old by election day
A U.S. citizen
A California resident
Registered at least 15 days before the election
Not in prison or on parole for a felony
Not declared mentally incompetent by court action

Offline Way
Swing by any fire department, the library, the post office, or City Hall and ask for a voter registration form.

The all-new style ballot box for Vote-by-Mail ballots for the Gubernatorial Primary Election is now in the Milpitas City Hall lobby. It will remain through to Election Day for the convenience of all Santa Clara County voters, not just those who live here, but also for those who work here.

Voter Guides

California Online Voter Guide Home Page
The California Voter Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working through research, oversight, outreach and demonstration projects to improve the election process so that it better serves the needs and interests of voters.

California Voter Information
California League of Women Voters website for the Santa Clara County ballot. Information about candidates and issues.

Voting Day Information

Check Status of Your Ballot
Under the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, every voter who casts a provisional ballot is entitled to find out from his/her county elections official if the ballot was counted and if not, the reason why it was not counted.

On the Ballot

California Voter Information Guide
he Voter Information Guide for the June 5, 2018, Statewide Direct Primary Election is now available in PDF. An HTML version of the guide will be available on April 6, 2018.

Political Parties

AMERICAN INDEPENDENT PARTY

American Independent Party
California Affiliate of the Constitution Party, the AIP is California’s fastest growing political party. Californians have recognized the need for a major change in government policies, a return to constitutional government, and control of the government by the governed.

Democratic National Committee
The DNC plans the Party’s quadrennial presidential nominating convention; promotes the election of Party candidates with both technical and financial support; and works with national, state, and local party organizations, elected officials, candidates, and constituencies to respond to the needs and views of the Democratic electorate and the nation.

Green Party of California
Please join us as we build towards a more democratic, cooperative, cleaner, safer world where we the people, not the corporations, make the decisions that affect our lives.

Green Party of the United States
A confederation of state Green Parties. Committed to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots organizing, Greens are renewing democracy without the support of corporate donors.

LIBERTARIANS

Libertarian Party of California
If you describe yourself as socially tolerant and fiscally responsible, you’re a Libertarian! We believe you-not the government-should decide how to run your life, checkbook, retirement, education and family.

Libertarian Party
Committed to America’s heritage of freedom: individual liberty and personal responsibility; a free-market economy of abundance and prosperity; and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade.

NATURAL LAW PARTY

Natural Law Party – California
Founded in April 1992 to “bring the light of science into politics.” Its founders, a group of a dozen educators, businessmen, and lawyers, knew that field-tested solutions to America’s problems already existed but were being ignored by government.

REPUBLICANS

California Republican Party
Your online source for Republican news, events, and information from all over California. (Not available in other languages.)

Republican National Committee
Republicans have a long and rich history with basic principles: Individuals, not government, can make the best decisions; all people are entitled to equal rights; and decisions are best made close to home. (Not available in other languages.)

Initiative Information

How to Qualify an Initiative
This is a summary of the statewide initiative procedure and the requirements for preparing and qualifying initiatives. This guide is intended for statewide initiatives only. For information regarding the qualification of local initiatives, please contact your county elections official or city clerk. Please contact the Secretary of State’s Initiative Coordinator at (916) 657-2166 for more information.